Interpretivism and the Meaning of Mental State Ascriptions

Authors

  • Marc Slors Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies, Radboud University

Keywords:

mental states, mind-body problem, interpretivism

Abstract

Interpretivism is often seen as the theory according to which mental state ascription is useful, even though mental states do no really exist. this “as if” theory is widely held to be untenable. In this paper I argue that in order to avoid an “as if” reading of interpretivism, we should embrace the strongest version of this theory.

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References

Dennett, D. (1987). The Intentional Stance, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.

Dennett, D. (1991). Real patterns, The Journal of Philosophy 88: 27-51.

McCulloch, G. (1990). Dennett’s little grains of salt, The Philosophical Quarterly 40: 1-12.

Mölder, B. (2010). Mind Ascribed: An Elaboration and Defence of Interpretivism, John Benjamins, Amsterdam.

Ravenscroft, I. (2005). Philosophgy of Mind: A Beginners Guide, Oxford University Press, New York.

Ryle, G. (1949). The Concept of Mind, Hutchinson, London.

Slors, M. (1996). Why Dennett cannot explain what it is to adopt the intentional stance, Philosophical Quarterly 46: 93-98.

Slors, M. (2007). Intentional systems theory, mental causation and empathic resonance, Erkenntnis 67: 321-336.

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Published

2015-10-20

How to Cite

Slors, M. (2015). Interpretivism and the Meaning of Mental State Ascriptions. Studia Philosophica Estonica, 10(2), 18–27. Retrieved from https://ojs.utlib.ee/index.php/spe/article/view/14495